If you enjoy theater and crave to watch as many plays as possible, in Achaea you will be more than satisfied.

With Patras having the lead role, theater and Patras go together since 1872 that Apollo theater was constructed.

Nowadays, the famous International Festival of Patras (www.festivalpatras.gr ) is held every summer and many concerts and musical performances for all tastes are organized in Patras. Even the most demanding spectator cannot but be greatly excited. Acclaimed performers from Greece and abroad choose Patras as one of the passing points of their summer tour.

Patras has many great spaces that host exceptional plays, such as the Roman Odeon, the Castle of Patras, the Apollo Theater and the Old Hospital of Patras that is now utilized for cultural purposes.
Theatrical events are also organized in other parts of Achaea, especially during the summer months.

More information about the performing arts in Patras can be found in the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Patras in www.patrasculture.gr or just dial 2610 390 937.

The visual arts could not be missing from Achaea and especially Patras, a city that greatly honors its cultural heritage.

The key pillar of the art exhibitions is the Municipal Art Gallery Patron (street Maizonos 110, Patras, telephone) which apart from the excellent permanent collection, hosts very interesting temporary exhibitions.

There is also the International Art Festival Patras "RE-culture", which has been organized since 2011 by Art in progress (www.artinprogress.eu ) and is always a very special event.

Countless exhibitions are organized in several spaces such as:

• The Ideal multiplex (www.inteal.gr with number. 2610 225565).
• The Agora Arguri multiplex (www.agoraargiri.blogspot.gr with number. 2610 461740).

and to many galleries like the Cube Gallery (www.cubegallery.gr), as well as several other areas in Patras and the rest of Achaea

More information about the visual arts in Patras can be found in the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Patras in www.patrasculture.gr or just dial 2610 390 937.

For those who love live music, Achaea and Patras are the ideal destination.

Today due to the famous International Festival of Patras (www.festivalpatras.gr ) that is held every summer, many concerts and musical performances for all tastes are organized in Patras, exciting even the most discerning spectator. Acclaimed artists from Greece and abroad choose Patras as one of the points where they unfold their musical talent. Unique concerts are held at the Roman Odeon, the Patras Castle and the Castle of Rio, where the exceptional sound of music and the breathtaking scenery create a wonderful atmosphere not to be missed.
Greece, and especially Patras, is famous worldwide for its Greek music and the musical instrument bouzouki.

In Patras, as elsewhere in Achaea, there are many places where you can live a different musical experience and have fun the traditional Greek way. If you are not the bouzoukia-type, no matter what kind of music you are into, you will definitely find somewhere in Patras a live stage or bar dedicated to your favorite genre.

More information about musical events can be found in the Cultural Organization of the Municipality of Patras in www.patrasculture.gr or dial 2610 390 937.

The castle of Rio is situated in Rio and the region of Achaea.

The Rio Castle is next to the Rio-Antirrio Bridge and is surrounded by sea, except from the side facing towards the land, which is protected by a moat with seawater. On the side of the castle lies the pier where ships that take the route Rio-Antirrio can dock.

The Rio Castle was built in 1499 by Sultan Bayezid. In the castle's location,there were ruins of the temple of Poseidon. The construction of the castle lasted only three months and together with another one located opposite in Antirrio, they offered absolute control of the sea passage. In 1687 the Venetian Francesco Morosini occupied the fort after a siege. The damage caused by the battle was so great that he was virtually forced to rebuild it, in the form it has today. In 1715 the Castle of Rio is re-conquered by the Turks, and in 1828 after a siege of the French general Maison, it is finally delivered to the Greeks. The castle was used for a long time as a prison, while during the Second World War a German guard was installed there.

Today the Castle of Rio is open for visits and is occasionally used for cultural events.

The church Panagia Tripiti is located in Aigio, in the region of Achaea.

Panagia Tripiti is in a cave (hole) at the beach of Aigio, 30 m from the sea surface.

According to tradition, in the mid 16th century a castaway that was fighting with the waves of the Corinthian Gulf, saw a light guiding him to the mainland. Approaching the light, he was led to a cave in which he discovered an icon of the Virgin. The story became immediately known and the faithful crowd rushed to worship the image, while almost simultaneously work began in order to rebuild the church. In this position stands the current Panagia Tripiti, the patron saint of Aigio, which is visited by thousands of pilgrims to see first hand the cave and the --believed to be--miraculous icon.

The cog railway is in the region of Achaea and connects the area of Diakopto with Kalavryta.

The Cog Railway first opened in 1896 and since then daily crosses the Vouraikos gorge, connecting Diakopto with Kalavryta, stopping in Niamata, Triklia, Kato Zachlorou (Great Cave) and Kerpini. The route of the Cog Railway is 22.350 m and lasts about an hour.

The railway is named "cog", due to the cogged,toothed rails it has in multiple parts of the route. Owing to the steep slope that reaches even 17.5%, the train is hooked on rack rails on each point with a slope over 10% and continues its path. Because of its difficulty of manufacture, the width of the cog's line is only 75 cm, making it one of the smallest in Europe. In the straight track, the train speed reaches 40 km per hour, while where it meets slope it drops to 12 km per hour.

The technical characteristics of the Cog Railway are quite interesting, but its most important feature is the actual route. A majestic route into and through nature. The train passes through the gorge of Vouraikos, through impressive tunnels with stalagmites it meets waterfalls and unique vegetation, making the trip a memorable experience.

Vasileos Georgiou square is in the center of Patras' town.

Vasileos Georgiou square is the central square of the city. Constructed in 1829 on Kapodistrias, the square changed many names (Republic, Kalamogdarti, Othonos, Thomopoulou, Central, Paligenesias) until 1863 when its was finally named Square Vasileos Georgiou A' (King George I). Locals often refer to it as George's Square. Above the square there are two fountains that were placed there in 1875, while next to the square there is the Apollo Theater. A variety of feasts and celebrations are organized in the square Vasileos Georgiou, with those about the renowned Patrino Karnavali being its peak.

In Patras, right in the center of the city lies the Temple of Agios Andreas.

This sacred temple was built to honor Apostle Andrew, who is the patron saint of Patras.

The Apostle Andrew, being one of the 12 Apostles of Christ, preached Christianity in many parts of the world. During his passage from Patras, the Romans arrested and crucified him. According to tradition, the Christian church was constructed at the point where Apostle Andreas (which the church proclaimed St.) was martyred.

Nowadays in this point there are two churches, the old and the new church of St. Andrew.

The old church was built between 1836 and 1843, and it is also probably built on older ruins. The tomb of the Apostle Andrew can be found in the church.

Right next to the old church is the new Sacred Temple of Agios Andreas that was inaugurated in 1974. Its size is impressive, with a total of 2500 square meters where it can host more than 7 thousand people. Here is also where St. Andrea's skull is kept.

On the day of the feast of St. Andrew (November 30), the church is a destination for numerous Orthodox faithful people from around the world.

The Moni Megalou Spilaiou (Monastery of the Great Cave) is 10 km from Kalavryta.

The Moni Megalou Spilaiou (Monastery of the Great Cave) is located at an altitude of 940 meters and is situated in front of a huge natural cave after which it was named. The site where it is built, on the rock above the gorge of Vouraikos, coupled with the impressive architecture, shake every visitor.

Considered to be the oldest in Greece, the Moni Megalou Spilaiou (Monastery of the Great Cave) was built in 362 by two monks from Thesaloniki: Symeon and Theodoro. According to tradition, the two monks had a vision and were thereby driven in the cave where they discovered an icon of Virgin Mary, made by the Evangelist Luke. In order to store and keep the icon safe, they built a small temple that gradually due to the crowd of faithful people who came to worship, became one of the largest monasteries and an significant pilgrimage of Orthodoxy.

This icon, the icon of Panagia Megalospilaiotissa, is the most important of the relics in the Moni Megalou Spilaiou (Monastery of the Great Cave). It is one of the only three icons worldwide to be attributed to St. Luke and is the object of worship and pilgrimage for thousands of faithful, who every year visit the Moni Megalou Spilaiou (Monastery of the Great Cave). Of course, the monastery having such rich history also has many other relics and valuable offerings as well as an impressive library.

The Moni Megalou Spilaiou (Monastery of the Great Cave) has experienced several disasters over the years, with most recent the damage by the Germans during the Second World War. Against all odds, it stands in its position, ready to impress every single soul that visits it.

The Monastery of Agia Lavra is approximately 4 km from Kalavryta.

The Monastery of Agia Lavra was founded in 961 by the monk Eugene. The original Catholic monastery was located approximately 500 meters from the current and was destroyed by the Turks in 1585. The Monastery of Agia Lavra stands in its current position since 1689.

The long-suffering monastery was burned by Ibrahim in 1826 and rebuilt in 1828. In 1844 it is demolished by an earthquake, until it is rebuilt in 1850. On December 14, 1943, following the massacre in Kalavryta, Germans burned the monastery and executed all monks found in it. In 1950 the Monastery of Agia Lavra was restored to its present form and still remains a place of pilgrimage for the Orthodox and a worthy destination for any visitor.

In Agia Lavra, according to the prevailing version, the Metropolitan Palaion Patron Germanos blessed in March 1821 the assembled Greek chieftains and raised the revolutionary banner declaring the Greek Revolution against the Turks.

What is certain is that here the first flag of the Greek Revolution and weapons of 1821 can be found, along with many other ecclesiastic relics that constitute the cultural treasure of the monastery; a treasure worth seeing.